Nat\\\'l committee to stage countrywide demo Dec 22

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports will stage a demonstration  across the country on December 22 to press home its several demands, including taking effective steps to save the Sundarbans, reports UNB.
Prof Anu Mohammad, member secretary of the national committee, announced the progamme at a press conference at Purana Paltan in the city Monday.
The other demands include compensating fishermen and those who earn their livelihood from the Sundarbans affected due to the oil spillage, slapping a permanent ban on the plying of commercial vessels through the Shela and Pashur rivers and scrapping the move to construct a coal-fired power plant at Rampal in Bagerhat.
Prof Anu Mohammad alleged that Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and other high officials of the government are putting the Sundarbans towards further destruction through making careless comments over the oil spillage.
He also criticised the government for not forming an expert committee to stop the oil spillage and oversee the losses immediately after the incident.
Dr Md Abul Bashar of Dhaka University's Zoology Department said the oil spill will affect the entire ecosystem, diversity of species and genetic resources of the environment of the Sundarbans. "Not only the present generation but also the 3rd and 4th generations will be affected heavily following the consequence of the incident."